I have scars some have been the result of a terrible rare disease that nearly destroyed the right side of my face. I was only 11 years old when this disease without a name suddenly appeared. I was seen by so many top doctors and specialists in NYC and nobody could diagnose what was happening to me.

Running out of options my desperate parents were recommended to see one of most respected innovative Dermotologists name Norman Oreintriech . His client list included Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Wahol , Cary Grant and so many others.

Dr Oreintriech was intimadating when my mother took me to see him for a consultation when I was twelve. He took a look at my face and told my mom “I have never took on such a young patient, but, I am willing to try to fix the damage done to her face because even though she has terrible scars I can see how beautiful she was and will we be again.” Then he added “Honestly, if I saw no potential and if she was below average looking, I would tell you to not waste your money and your time and just take her home.” I still remember how those words changed my life and how it to be given “HOPE.”

Dr Norman Orientriech gave me my life back. He slowly filled up face with small monthly amounts of silicone every month. I waited for hours sometimes in his waiting room filled with well dressed very attractive NYC socialite types of women. When I finally saw the doctor he would take photos of my face and inject over 100 or so painful silicone injections into my right upper lip and lower cheek and chin area until the small vial containing the carefully measured monthly amount of silicone was empty.The whole routine took about 5 minutes. He would barely say anything to me or my mom except “See you next month.”

I teenage years were taken away from me socially. I still had tons of girlfriends who were “True Friends” and never left my side while I was disfiqured. They treated me exactly the same although there lives were all about going to parties and having boyfriends. I wasn’t jealous, I listened to their stories and was happy for them. If somebody in school made fun of me or called me things like “Scarface” and one of my many popular friends were present they would defend me and verbally attack these few immature mostly male bastards.

Over 100,000 dollars and over a 100 or so monthly trips to Dr. Norman Orientreich , my face was finally almost scar free. The scars I endured battleing this illness emotionally would still haunt me till this day.

I was 22 years old, engaged and well, okay quite beautiful the last time I saw Dr. Norman Orientriech. I was all grown up and Dr. Orientriech looked younger every time I saw him over the past 10 years. He was now developing skin care products for Nuetrogena and Clinique . That day we both decided that I didn’t need any more injections. His job was done and the promise he made my mom and me over 10 years prior came true.

Mr. Orientriech wished me well and hugged me tight and like always he was in a rush to see his next patient but I could see he had tears in his eyes.

That was over 30 years ago.

On this Father’s Day I want to dedicate this post to Dr. Orientriech a dedicated dermotologist who invented so many skin products and procedures years before other top doctors in his field. He is also a loving father. His son David and daughter Catherine are both Dermotologists have their practice in the same NYC office.

I saw David Orientriech a few weeks ago for some touch-up work on my face. He told me that his dad was now retired and 90 years old.

At the end of visit David Orientreich looked at me closely and said to me “I finally know who the girl in the photo still sitting on his father’s desk for so many years is!”

Daddy I Wish….originally posted on my blog You Are Already Beautiful Parry Romberg Syndrome and Me My story by Cheryl Rick Klein

I am sharing this very personal story to support #rarediseaseday and #NORD

If you know someone suffering from a rare disease please reblog and share this post originally written in 2010 to #raiseawareness , #educate and #support others living with a #RareDisease

It has beem 16 years since you left and yes daddy I am still fighting to survive and won’t give up.

Dedicated with love to MANNY RICK my dad who died May 23, 2000

My father was the first to notice that something was very wrong with my face when a small cut by my chin didn’t heal. He wasted no time and took me to every medical expert to find out was was wrong.

He held my hand and told me that I was still beautiful and told me to remain strong. He told me he would never give up to make me well again.

He showed me what true beauty is. You won’t find it in any mirror.
My dad lost both his legs to complications having diabetes.

I told him what he told me so many years ago.

Be strong, you are a beautiful person.

And he was………

It was the day of my little sister’s wedding. I went over to my parent’s house

to get ready for the big event.

Suddenly, my mother, and my two sisters were gathering their gowns and were heading to the door. ” Where are you going ? I asked.”

We have to get to the temple early we are having our makeup done professionally. They didn’t make a appointment for me.

My face said it all. My dad who was watching the situation remarked “I told you it wasn’t right to not include Cheryl.”

I just stood speechless as they pushed past me and headed out the door.

I ran upstairs to my old room and cried. I didn’t understand why I was not included. I lost half my face to Parry romberg Syndrome and it took years of cosmetic procedures to erase the damage on the outside, however in that moment I knew nothing could erase the emotional scars I tried to hide from the world.

Could my own family be so shallow and actually be jealous I became too pretty???

My father called me to come downstairs.

He had tears in his eyes when he saw me. He opened his arms and hugged me tight. We cried together in silence.

Then he said the most beautiful words to me I will never forget.

” You don’t need a make-up artist you are so beautiful just the way you are.”

I loved my dad more than anyone in the world. He saw the pain I hid in a smile.

My father also was fighting for his life after he was diagnosed in his late 50’s with Diabetes.

Diabetes is also a auto-immune illness that ravaged my father’s body and eventually took both his legs.

I told him the same words he told me years ago. “You will always be beautiful to me daddy.” I hugged him tight and he cried like a baby in my arms.
Parry Romberg Syndrome became a official rare disease in 2001.

Sadly my dad never knew I was finally diagnosed, he died just one year before.